Remembering Ivan Reitman

Updated February 19th to add:

• a link to the February 18th article "THE SCOOP | The Royal Alexandra Theatre To Dim Lights In Honour Ivan Reitman" by Michael Vincent in Ludwig Van Toronto.
  
• a link to the February 16th post "Jim Steinmeyer Reflects on Ivan Reitman and 'Merlin'" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Updated February 16th to add: 

• a link to the February 15th article "The king of ‘slobs vs. snobs’: Ivan Reitman reinvented a Hollywood genre, then did it again" by Jaime Weinman in The Hamilton Spectator.
• a link to the February 15th post "Brian Lumley Reflects on Ivan Reitman" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Updated February 15th:

• at 1:45pm to add Peter Mennie's Facebook post from February 14th.
  
• at 8am to add a link to Neil McNally's post February 14th post "Ivan Reitman (1946-2022)" at The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Ivan Reitman passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022.  

You may know that the Toronto-raised filmmaker directed blockbusters such as Ghostbusters and Meatballs.  

We were reminded by Peter Mennie that Ivan was friends with Doug Henning.  From Neil McNally at The Doug Henning Project: "It was said that Ivan fronted him (Doug) the money to purchase the props to create his stage show which became known as Spellbound."

Ivan went on to produce and direct Spellbound at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre.  (Neil has uploaded an image of the Spellbound pamphlet.)  In addition Ivan co-produced Doug's The Magic Show on Broadway.

Our sincere condolences to Ivan's family and friends.

From the February 14th Facebook post by Peter Mennie:

Read more about Ivan:

• "THE SCOOP | The Royal Alexandra Theatre To Dim Lights In Honour Ivan Reitman" by Michael Vincent in Ludwig Van Toronto.
  
• "Jim Steinmeyer Reflects on Ivan Reitman and 'Merlin'" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
• "Brian Lumley Reflects on Ivan Reitman" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  
• "The king of ‘slobs vs. snobs’: Ivan Reitman reinvented a Hollywood genre, then did it again" by Jaime Weinman in The Hamilton Spectator.
• "Ivan Reitman (1946-2022)" by Neil McNally at The Doug Henning Project.
  
• "Ivan Reitman, acclaimed Canadian producer and director of Ghostbusters, dead at 75" at the CBC.
• "Ivan Reitman just might be the most influential Canadian filmmaker of all time" by Barry Hertz at The Globe and Mail.
• "Director Ivan Reitman remembered as comedy heavyweight, champion of Canadian film" at CityNews.
  

 

 

Ring 17 hosts Magic Christian virtual lecture [Feb 17]

Thursday, February 17, 2022

 

From IBM Ring 17:

In February, we will be joined live from Austria by performer and author Magic Christian. Magic Christian has won numerous awards, including a Performers Fellowship from the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. He recently completed two mammoth tomes about the life and magic of the legendary Viennese conjurer Hofzinser.  

Read more.

 

 

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A post shared by Hat & Rabbit Club, Toronto (@hatandrabbitclub)

 

Marty Chan in the Edmonton Journal

From the February 4th article "Edmonton authors Natasha Deen and Marty Chan dominate the young-readers realm" by Justin Bell in the Edmonton Journal:

Now, the acclaimed author is shepherding his three newest publications to release. Chan’s first new book, Kylie the Magnificent, about a girl who wants to be a magician but is pigeonholed into being a magician’s assistant, came out last December. It’s for kids 9-12.

Willpower, about a girl with powers hiding from authorities and also for kids 9-12, comes out this month. Final Cut, the story of a boy and a video project gone wrong, comes out in August. It’s for readers over the age of 12. All three are from Orca Book Publishers.

Small age differences can make a big difference in language, tone and subject matter for young readers. But when it comes down to it, it’s all about story and character.

“The thought process is the same. It always comes down to story and character,” says Chan. “I still have to come up with a believable and strong character. The second thing I think about is what are the stories? What are the characters that are relevant for that particular age? When kids are reading, they tend to read up in terms of age and issues they are facing.”

Read more.

 

 

 

Eric Leclerc on the Reddit Studio LIVE broadcast [Feb 12]

From the February 11th Instagram post by Eric Leclerc:

Tune in TOMORROW night at 8pm EST for our Reddit Studio LIVE broadcast. I’ll be performing to the one and only T-PAIN! Don’t miss it! 

 

 

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A post shared by Eric Leclerc 🇨🇦 (@magic4yourbrain)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eric Leclerc 🇨🇦 (@magic4yourbrain)

 

 

Toronto: Hocus Jokus [Feb 23-24]

Catch Ben Train, Jonah Babins, Chris Westfall, and Wes Barker at Yuk Yuk's! 

 

From the January 27th Instagram post by the Toronto Magic Company:

Is this Toronto’s funniest magic show or Toronto’s most magical comedy show? 🤔

Trick question - it’s BOTH! 🙌

Toronto’s funniest magicians have joined forces to create a 90 minute show jam packed with laughs and mind-blowing amazement. They’ll read your mind, predict the future, and do all sorts of other crazy sh*t you won’t believe unless you see it with your own eyes!👀

And it’s happening for two days only - February 23rd and 24th.‼‼

So get off the couch and join us for an incredible night of comedy, magic, and fun that you’ll never forget.🙌

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A post shared by Toronto Magic Company (@torontomagiccompany)

Penn and Teller: Fool Us casting for season 9 - deadline extended!

From the February 8th Facebook post by Connie Boyd:

Penn and Teller: Fool Us SEASON 9 have extended their CASTING DEADLINE to FEBRUARY 28TH !!
Please read and share !! 👇👇
This could be enough time for anyone with a genius idea they just couldn't finish before - to get it in for consideration!!

Send the clip (preferably unlisted through YouTube or Vimeo) to: fooluscasting@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Penn & Teller: Fool Us (@ptfoolus)

 

 

 

Request for photos of Doug Henning and Breathless (Jeff Plewman)

From the February 8th post "'Nash the Slash' DOCU Needs Your Help with Doug Photos" by Neil McNally at the Doug Henning Project:

Brunton and his team are working on a documentary on the late Canadian musician Jeff Plewman. Plewman, better known as Nash the Slash, was a multi-instrumentalist pioneer in progressive rock music. The film “Nash the Slash Rises Again” will be the first extensive look at Plewman’s life and career. 

It just so happens that Plewman and Doug worked together in their early days.  Doug frequently used local rock bands as back up during his shows, and Plewman’s then band “Breathless” was one of them. 

The film is looking for any photos of Doug and Breathless on stage together during this time. If they exist I haven’t seen them, so I’m looking to you the reader to help if you can.

Read more and learn how to email Neil with leads.